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June 27, 2006 PRINCESS ANNE, MD - University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES) head men's basketball coach Larry Lessett announced the signing of six recruits from the Class of 2006 to National Letters of Intent on Tuesday. Standout talents Aleksandar Popovic, Ahmad Nicholson, Milutin Mirjacic, Kevin Cayruth, Robert "BJ" Nimocks and Rick Ford comprise the new incoming Hawk class. Ahmad Nicholson - G An explosive combination guard, Nicholson was voted team MVP after averaging 13.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior in 2005-06 at Camden Catholic High School (Camden, N.J.). He led the Fighting Irish to a State Championship his freshman year and holds the highest career 3-point shooting percentage (48%) in Camden Catholic history. Kevin Cayruth - G/F A dynamic guard/forward combo, Cayruth signed with the Hawks on April 25. He is a rare third-year junior college player who redshirted in his first season at Hutchinson Community College (HCC). In his freshman year with the Blue Dragons, Cayruth averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and helped HCC to a 29-4 record and the Jayhawk West Championship title. He posted season averages of 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his sophomore year while making 48% of his field goals. In high school, Cayruth earned all-conference first team honors during his senior year at Abundant Life Christian Academy. Milutin Mirjacic - F A heralded player at small forward, Mirjacic boasts a complete inside-outside game and is a proven defensive matchup. He averaged 13.0 points and eight rebounds per game with Forma Uzice club team, one of the top amateur teams in Serbia & Montenegro. Fundamentally sound with excellent speed and leaping ability, Mirjacic averaged 12.0 points and six rebounds per game as a member of the Borac Cacek club team. B.J. Nimocks - F Robert "BJ" Nimocks is a 6-7 forward from Detroit, Michigan who was voted "Mr. Hustle" during his sophomore year with Coach Kevin Muff at Cloud County Community College. Nimocks was team captain and helped the Thunderbirds to a 24-9 record during the 2005-06 season. He averaged 6.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during his two years at Cloud County and played his high school ball at Bridgton Academy where he led his team to a 27-7 record. Rick Ford - F A multitalented forward who played four positions last year, Ford was named an honorable mention Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) All-American after a strong season at Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi. Ford, who had season averages of 10 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists per game with the Bulldogs, was also selected to take part in the 2006 MACJC All-Star game in Philadelphia. Ford spent his freshman year at Jefferson Davis Community College where he averaged 10.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game. Aleksandar Popovic - F/C A versatile athlete that can play three positions, Popovic averaged 12.0 points and six rebounds per game with KK Voivodina Club team in Serbia & Montenegro. At 6-10 he is extremely agile with great rebounding ability and quickness. Popovic spent a year at Notre Dame Prep before playing at Weatherford College (Texas). He played in 10 games and made 66.7% of his field goals at Weatherford. UMES adds the six newcomers to a team that posted a 7-22 record in 2005-06. The Hawks' win total more than tripled the number from the 2004-05 season, and UMES' four conference victories on the year surpassed the number of league wins from the previous season. Three of the Hawks' wins came against non-conference opponents: a 75-72 OT win over Utah Valley State (Nov. 15), a 65-59 victory over Morehead State (Dec. 3), and a 59-57 win over Brown (Dec. 20). Two of the six returning Hawk letterwinners, Jesse Brooks and Ed Tyson, were named to the 2005-06 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Rookie team following the end of the regular season.
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